Laguna Hills Parks & Recreation Commission reviews Memorial Day, July 4 and summer kickoff reports; motions to file

The Laguna Hills Parks & Recreation Commission on Monday heard staff reports on three major summer events and unanimously moved to receive and file the reports.

Community services staff told the commission the city’s Memorial Day Half Marathon and Community Expo on May 26 drew what was reported as 878 runners in the 5K, 652 in the 10K and 583 in the half marathon, plus 62 kids in the kids run and 38 in a diaper dash. Staff said new road-closure plans and course changes — including routing runners along Paseo De Valencia, Alicia and onto the County Trail — improved safety by separating runners from vehicle traffic. Staff reported race revenues of $186,000 and expenses of just over $221,000; commissioners asked about an approximately $34,000 shortfall and staff attributed much of the overrun to higher barricade and meridian-closure costs compared with the prior year. A motion to "receive and file" the Memorial Day report passed.

Staff reported the…